'God, how could you do this to us?'

Volunteers help flooded church open with hope that faith will carry survivors through rebuilding

Nov. 5, 2012

Shore Vineyard Church associate pastor Greg Maciunski and his wife Ali (left), comfort Susan Rapp-Hoppe, of Toms River during a Sunday morning service at the South Toms River church. / Thomas P. Costello/Staff Photographer

Shore Vineyard Church associate pastor Greg Maciunski hugs Susan Rapp-Hoppe, Toms River, NJ, during Sunday morning's service at the South Toms River, NJ, church. The church was heavily damaged in the Hurricane Sandy floodwaters, but the community came together to make emergency repairs. Rapp-Hoppe's home in Toms River was heavily damaged. SOUTH TOMS RIVER, NJ 11/4/12 WITH VIDEO STRSANDY1104B ASBURY PARK PRESS PHOTO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO

A woman arrives at the Shore Vineyard Church in South Toms River, NJ, for Sunday morning's service. The church was heavily damaged in the Hurricane Sandy floodwaters, but the community came together to make emergency repairs. SOUTH TOMS RIVER, NJ 11/4/12 WITH VIDEO STRSANDY1104C ASBURY PARK PRESS PHOTO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO

Shore Vineyard Church pastor Brett Conover conducts Sunday morning's service at the South Toms River, NJ, church. The church was heavily damaged in the Hurricane Sandy floodwaters, but the community came together to make emergency repairs. SOUTH TOMS RIVER, NJ 11/4/12 WITH VIDEO STRSANDY1104D ASBURY PARK PRESS PHOTO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO

Maria Connover (left), wife of Shore Vineyard Church pastor Brett Conover, shares a hug with Nadine Sammarco, Toms River, NJ, during Sunday morning's service at the South Toms River, NJ, church. The church was heavily damaged in the Hurricane Sandy floodwaters, but the community came together to make emergency repairs. SOUTH TOMS RIVER, NJ 11/4/12 WITH VIDEO STRSANDY1104E ASBURY PARK PRESS PHOTO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO

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SOUTH TOMS RIVER — Debbie Foley and her 17-year-old daughter, Sarah, came to Shore Vineyard Church Sunday seeking hope.

The Foleys have not been back to their Seaside Heights home on Webster Avenue since Hurricane Sandy struck on Oct. 29. They have no idea what happened to their house.

“I just don’t know what’s left, or even when we can go back,” said Debbie Foley, 47. “We have been feeling sort of hopeless. We needed a little bit of hope. This really helped.”

The fact that the Foleys were able to worship in Shore Vineyard Church on Sunday was at least a minor miracle. Perched on the edge of the Toms River, the church was flooded with nearly 3 feet of water when Sandy roared through.

But with the help of more than 100 volunteers, including members of the congregation and people from other Vineyard churches in New York and Pennsylvania, Shore Vineyard was able to open on Sunday.

Floorboards inscribed with Bible verses had replaced the sodden carpet, and mismatched chairs obtained from various other churches lined the aisles. Sheetrock had been ripped out and replaced with water resistant Aqua Board.

The church smelled, and its floors and walls were coated with brown slime when Conover entered for the first time two days after the storm.

“It smelled like a combination of dead fish, diesel fuel and a little of Barnegat Bay marsh,” he said.

Conover said the church moved to South Toms River in March from a smaller location in Beachwood.

“God, how could you do this to us?” Conover said at the second Sunday service. “You sent us to the place where you knew we would pour out our blood, sweat and tears when you knew you were going to drench us a few months later.”

But, Conover said, as he prayed, he found the answer to his own question. “You know what? It’s going to be fine, (because) the Lord sent us here.”

About 100 people gathered for the service. As it ended, more than a dozen church members who are homeless stood beside Conover. The rest of the congregation circled them, and they prayed together.